North Queensland Toyota Cowboys head coach Paul Green has named Lachlan Coote to make his 2018 NRL season debut on Saturday evening against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at 1300SMILES Stadium.
The premiership-winning fullback missed the first three weeks of the season courtesy of a hamstring injury before making his return through the Queensland Cup with the Mackay Cutters in Round 4.
Coote’s inclusion at fullback sees Ben Hampton move to the centres, with Javid Bowen dropping to the extended bench.
Green’s forward pack remains unchanged with Scott Bolton retaining his starting front-row spot in the absence of the injured Jordan McLean.
Utility Te Maire Martin joins John Asiata, Corey Jensen and Ethan Lowe on the interchange bench.
Exciting playmaking prospect Jake Clifford also comes into the 21-man squad for the first time in 2018 after a strong start to the season with the Northern Pride.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 5.30pm.
North Queensland Toyota Cowboys v Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Round 6, 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership
5.30pm, Saturday 14 April, 1300SMILES Stadium
Tickets: ticketek.com.au
#NRLCowboysBulldogs #ridemcowboys
1. Lachlan Coote
2. Kyle Feldt
3. Justin O'Neill
4. Ben Hampton
5. Antonio Winterstein
6. Michael Morgan
7. Johnathan Thurston (c)
8. Matthew Scott (c)
9. Jake Granville
10. Scott Bolton
11. Gavin Cooper
12. Coen Hess
13. Jason Taumalolo
Interchange:
14. Te Maire Martin
15. John Asiata
16. Corey Jensen
17. Ethan Lowe
Reserves:
18. Francis Molo
19. Javid Bowen
20. Enari Tuala
21. Jake Clifford
BULLDOGS: 1 Moses Mbye, 2 Brett Morris, 3 Josh Morris, 4 Will Hopoate, 5 Marcelo Montoya, 6 Jeremy Marshall-King, 7 Kieran Foran, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Michael Lichaa, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Josh Jackson (c), 12 Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 13 Adam Elliott. Interchange: 14 Asipeli Fine, 15 Danny Fualalo, 16 Greg Eastwood, 17 Kerrod Holland. Reserves: 18 John Olive, 19 Rhyse Martin, 20 Renouf Toomaga, 21 Reimis Smith.
